When the occult came to the American West: individualism and magic in the art of California, from Agnes Pelton to Jess
“It is in America that the transformation will take place, and has already silently commenced.” With these words, written in The Secret Doctrine in 1888, occultist philosopher Helena Blavatsky drew a direct connection between the Theosophical Society and the dynamic energy of 19th-century Americanism. Blavatsky and her successors identified the American West as the perfect site for a rebirth and re-enchantment of humanity, drawing those seeking spiritual fulfilment outside of organized religion to the dramatic landscapes of California, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico―places which have long beckoned searchers of all kinds. The syncretic nature of Theosophy allowed for and even encouraged individualism in belief, making Theosophy a good fit for the notions of freedom and personal agency that characterized the American West in the popular imaginary. Among those drawn to the American West seeking spiritual answers in the early 20th century were artists. In 2014, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum at Utah State University staged the first exhibition to explore artistic responses to this confluence of enchanted thought and the American West. Building on this precedent, Enchanted Modernities: Theosophy, the Arts and the American West is the first publication devoted to studying these relationships in art and music. Through a series of color plates, contextual essays, interviews and interpretations of individual works by artists such as the Dynaton group (Wolfgang Paalen, Gordon Onslow Ford, Lee Mullican), Oskar Fischinger, Emil Bisttram, Lawren Harris, Raymond Jonson, Agnes Pelton, Wolfgang Paalen, Beatrice Wood, Dane Rudhyar and Jess, Enchanted Modernities explores the role of Theosophical thought in redefining the relationship between enchantment and modernism, and fostering lively cultural networks in a region that that has long captured the world’s imagination.

Enchanted Modernities: Theosophy, the Arts and the American West

Arts & Photography

Turner, Sarah Victoria

History & Criticism

FULGUR PRESS

Rana Begum RA (b.1977) is an artist known for her wide ranging works, from the intimate to the monumental. Using a variety of materials and exploring the use of light, she blurs the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, design, and painting to create works that are both playful and ambiguous. This comprehensive monograph expands on previous writings to investigate the ideas behind the artist's varied use of materials, including wood, metal, ready-made industrial components, and MDF. With a focus on her processes, the ways in which Begum's work intersects with architecture and design are drawn out, while key sources of inspiration--from the environments in which the artist works, to Islamic art and minimalism--are discussed. Combining contextual essays and an extensive interview with the artist, the development of Begum's work--from painting and furniture design to installations and light sculptures--is traced to present an in-depth overview of the multifaceted, complex work of this fascinating artist.

Rana Begum: Space Light Colour

Le Feuvre, Lisa

Lind, Maria

Jacob, Sam

Madani, Adnan

Lund Humphries

Making New Worlds: Li Yuan-chia & Friends

Nasar, Hammad

Tobin, Amy

Kettle's Yard

The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition is the world's longest running annual display of contemporary art, and one of its largest. Ever since 1769 the Academy's exhibition rooms have been crowded for some two months each year with thousands of paintings and sculptures by many of Britain's leading artists. These spectacular displays have provided artists with crucial competition, inspiration and publicity, and captured the interest of millions of visitors. The Great Spectacle takes the reader on a fascinating journey to tell the story of these exhibitions. Many treasured works of British art were first shown on the walls of the RA: portraits by Reynolds and Gainsborough, the mighty landscapes of Turner and Constable, and the Pre-Raphaelites, who caused such a critical and cultural furore. The chapter on the twentieth century will reveal the RA's relationship with British modernism, right up to the 2018 Summer Exhibition, which will be coordinated by Grayson Perry CBE RA. AUTHOR: Professor Mark Hallett is Director of Studies at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and author of Reynolds, Portraiture in Action (2014). Dr Sarah Victoria Turner is Assistant Director for Research at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. SELLING POINTS: * A fascinating study of the longest-running annual exhibition of contemporary art, the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, illustrated with works by many of the great names of British art including Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, J. M. W. Turner, John Constable, David Hockney, Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin * Accompanies an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts from 12 June to 19 August 2018 200 colour images

The Great Spectacle: 250 Years of the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition

Hallett, Mark

Feather, Jessica

Collections, Catalogs & Exhibitions

Royal Academy of Arts

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Books by Turner, Sarah Victoria